Top Five Riders Who Can Win MotoGP Season-Opener At Qatar

3. Valentino Rossi

There used to be a time when betting against Valentino Rossi winning a race was a long shot. The Doctor’s invulnerability is tarnished, but he has three wins at Losail dating back to his first in 2005. He’s led the timesheets during preseason tests this year, is not recovering from any injuries and, after a season back aboard the Yamaha M1, he’s either ripe for another championship or retirement. How he does at the first race of 2014 will have some bearing on the rest of this season, as well as his career. He knows this to be true and will be pulling out all the stops to regain his MotoGP glory.

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Personally I’d put it (from 5 to 1st) Lorenzo, Aleix E, Marquez, Pedrosa, Rossi. Rossi’s been fast in pre-season testing, Lorenzo not so much. Aleix has really surprised, Pedrosa has tied Rossi as the fastest time at the recent test, and while Marquez will probably not be slowed much due to his leg, he will be some. I realize relegating Lorenzo to 5th is risky.